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Voter Numbers Up, Turnout Important To Close Races

AUSTIN (AP) – An all-time record of 13.64 million Texans have registered to vote this year, and they will start casting early ballots Monday.

Across the state, election workers will wait for people to cast their ballots until Nov. 2. Voters carrying their registration cards will not have to show a photo ID.

In more than hundreds of races, a handful of voters could decide some important contests. Democratic state Rep. Pete Gallego is trying to take back the 27th Congressional District from Republican incumbent Quico Canseco.

Former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, a Democrat, is putting on a stronger than expected challenge to Republican state Sen. Randy Weber to replace Congressman Ron Paul. Tarrant County officials expect a big turnout in the race between state Sen. Wendy Davis and state Rep. Mark Shelton.